The movie: Sylvester Stallone is quite cunning. His career almost reaching zero at the beginning of the 21st century, he was forced to deal with somewhat bad, partly direct-to-DVD releases (Avenging Angelo) when he got the idea to revive his major roles that had him become a worldwide renowned actor. Although many fans had predicted that he would fall flat on his face with his plans, they stood corrected after Rocky Balboa could satisfy by both its quality and box office results. Having this support in his back, Stallone could advertise his next work as a director, Rambo (which he owed the studio by contract anyhow) by way other means. As he already had proven his competence in the field of directing, he cleverly switched to a different PR-campaign focusing on mainly one topic: the amount of violence. Some months before the movie's release, a trailer was released that gained huge attention among the fan base as it was showing unprecedented gratuitous violence untypical for mainstream movies. Whereas this was no major problem for the US-American release (as they are quite liberal concerning violence in movies), in other countries the movie could not be released in an uncut version in theaters.

The Extended Cut: First it's to be mentioned that both the theatrical release and the extended version could be called Director's Cuts. Sylvester Stallone has been fiddling about either one of them. In an interview, the director mentioned that he would have very much liked seeing some elements in the movie.

Iím very happy because I wish the directorís cut had been the actual cut. The problem with releasing a film is when you revisit it a year or some later you see all the wasted possibilities that you didnít pay attention to the first time because of a rushed schedule. The new one has a great deal more heart to go along with the physicality of the film.

In retrospect, this statement proves to be a very honest judgment of the new version. The Extended Cut of Rambo doesn't show any additional scene of violence. For many fans who had initially hoped for some new extreme content (and whose focus for the evaluation of Rambo was mainly on the depiction of gratuitous violence) this new cut is even a step backwards. Stallone even cut some violent scenes. One example is the, already mentioned in some interviews, scene with the missionary whose severed legs (caused by an explosion) were sapparent and badly executed CGI effects. But the question whether all those changes can be explained by aesthetic reasons can only be answered by the director himself.

The two versions are very different from another when looked at them in detail. The prolonged version has not only just been filled with additional content, but is also missing some scenes, be it partly or completely, which are contained in the theatrical version. So there is much more new material in the new version than the runtime difference seen below suggests. Stallone has inserted deleted scenes, placed some scenes differently, and worked on his main concern, the relation between Rambo and Sarah, often quite minutely. In this respect, he well succeeded as in the Extended Cut, it gets much clearer that Sarah is an important person for Rambo, who is risking his life for her. In the theatrical version, the old chap comes along a lot grumpier and repellant whereas in the Extended Cut more emotion is involved without resorting to overly pathetic scenes or ones too obviously pointing in that direction.

Whether this new Director's Cut is essentially needed everyone should decide for himself. The theatrical version is suitably short and sticks to the basics. The Extended Cut bears the danger of uncomfortably prolonging the whole thing with the new scenes, but it provides more depth of the characters (as it is possible for a movie with a body count of 236).

103 differences, being

44 scenes with alternative material
20 scenes removed from the theatrical version
12 extended scenes with alternative material
10 additional scenes in the DC
8 e extended scenes in the DC
8 shortened scenes in the DC
2 extended scenes in the theatrical version

Comparison between the Extended Cut (Unrated) and the Theatrical version (R-rated).

Note: The Extended Cut is only released on Blu-ray disc. In order to not having to deal with too vast amounts of data to create this report, the pictures were changed in resolution and compression. As we don't have too much experience in that yet, the pictures sometimes are far from beautiful. We apologize and hope you understand.

Different order of the exposition

To begin with, the first huge difference. Whereas the theatrical version steps on it right from the start with the very cynical scene in the rice field, the Extended version starts in a lower tone with a presentation of Rambo's life at the moment. The different order of the scenes is made clear by a juxtaposition of representative pictures (as the source material is in German, the text in the pictures is as well, sorry).

Theatrical version

Extended Cut

Additional scene0:03:08: The Extended Cut fades to another scene where Rambo catches a snake and puts it in the bag of his pal.
23.72 secs.

Additional scene0:03:59: First a long shot of the boat, then a shot of the things going on on the boat. Rambo's pals are playing with a caught cobra. Rambo is watching them and suddenly ends this game by walking over, talking to them in their language, and putting the snake back in the bag. He then returns to the rudder.
38.48 secs.

Removed scene from the theatrical versionTheatrical version: 0:06:25: A shot of the snake handler averting the attack of two cobras is missing in the Extended Cut.
+ 2.88 secs.

Extended scene0:06:28: Another shot of the show, followed by a shot of Rambo walking to the warehouse with his men.
5.76 secs.

Extended scene with alternative materialExtended Cut: 9:09: There is a different shot of Sarah walking towards Rambo in the Extended Cut. His refreshing at the faucet is different in the two versions as well.
The Extended Cut runs 6.96 secs. longer

Shortened scene in the Extended CutTheatrical version: 0:01:36: The trucks are rolling a bit longer before they stop. This was shortened a bit in the Extended Cut.
The theatrical version runs 1.76 secs. longer

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:10:13: The interior shot of the truck is shown as long as it takes to drive out the captives in the Extended Cut. The theatrical version interrupts this shot and switches to a long shot of the truck and the people jumping out of it.
The theatrical version runs 0.8 secs. longer

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:10:41: The scene with the soldier throwing the mines into the field is not interrupted in the theatrical version. In the Extended Cut, there is a shot of Major Tint sitting on the jeep smoking inserted.
The Extended Cut runs 0.44 secs. longer

Removed scene from the theatrical version0:02:51: Shortly after the explosion of the grenade and the orders of the soldiers, a shot of the captives running around aimlessly is missing.
+ 2.12 secs.

Extended scene0:11:30: Here, theatrical version and Extended Cut are starting the scene differently before the Extended Cut has an extended dialog scene. Whereas you see Rambo forging his machete, the Extended Cut is different already when fading to the scene. It fades from Major Tint to the glowing machete (a little inside joke when you are aware of the encounter of Major Tint and the machete at the showdown). Rambo is working with his hammer in the Extended Cut, too, but Sarah arrives at the shed and enters. Rambo is looking at her and the following dialog evolves:

Rambo: 'You shouldn't be in here.'
Sarah: 'Would you reconsider? Look, I don't know anything about you, and it seems like you don't care to know anything about us.'
Michael (standing outside): 'Sarah.'
Sarah: '...but you live so close to what's going on over here. I mean, doesn't it bother you at all?'
Rambo: 'It's not my business.'
Michael: 'Sarah, we should go.'
Sarah: 'Do you believe that people are put here to die for no reason? Or believe in giving time to something other than yourself? I mean, do you believe in anything?'
Rambo: 'You really ought to go.'
Michael: 'The man doesn't care. We'll figure something out.'

When Rambo is wiping the sweat off his face, the two versions run along simultaneously again.
87.16 secs.

Removed scene from the theatrical versionTheatrical version: 0:10:31: A shot of some of Major Tint's soldiers shooting two helpless villagers and some women crying is missing in the Extended Cut.
+ 3.8 secs.

Extended scene with alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:13:43: The view of Major Tint is different in the two versions. The Extended Cut then shows how the soldiers are dragging the villagers around.
6.88 secs.

Removed scene from the theatrical versionTheatrical version: 0:10:44: In the theatrical version, a person is executed via head shot by a soldier. This soldier walks up the stairs afterwards while the head of the dead body is sliding down some stairs, leaving a trail of blood. In the Extended Cut, you can only see the last frame of this shot, but maybe this wasn't even intended and is just the result of poor editing.
+ 1.4 secs.

Extended scene with alternative materialTheatrical version: 0:12:23
Extended Cut: 0:15:32: Now there is the dialog of which Stallone said that he regrets not having it completely included in the theatrical version. In the Extended Cut, this dialog is significantly longer, and both scenes are seen as different takes. The following is a minute description of both scenes.

Theatrical version:

Rambo: 'Why'd you come back?'
Sarah: 'Waiting for you.'
Rambo: 'I told you before, I can't help you.'
Sarah: 'We need to go and help these people. We're here to make a difference. We believe, all lives are special.'
Rambo: 'Some lives, some not.'
Sarah: 'Really? If everyone thought like you, nothing would ever change.'
Rambo: 'Nothing does change.'
Sarah: 'Of course it does. Nothing stays the same.'
Rambo: 'Live your life, 'cause you got a good one.'
Sarah: 'It's what I'm trying to do.'
Rambo: 'No, what you're trying to do is change what is.'
Sarah: 'And what is?'
Rambo: 'Go home. Really. Go home.'

Sarah leaves the boat, but hesitates and the dialog continues a bit.

Sarah: 'Maybe you've lost your faith in people, but you must still be faithful to something. You must still care about something. Maybe we can't change what is, but trying to save a life isn't wasting your life, is it?'

Then Sarah leaves the pier and John wipes the water of his face before the fade to the next scene.

Extended Cut:

Rambo: 'Why'd you come back?'
Sarah: 'Waiting for you.'
Rambo: 'I told you before, I can't help you.'
Sarah: 'Why?'
Rambo: 'I don't want to. Where are your friends?'
Sarah: 'At the hotel. I can take care of myself.'
Rambo: 'Is that so?'
Sarah: 'Yes. I know you don't like us.'
Rambo: 'I never said that.'
Sarah: 'Well, it looks that way. We need to go and help these people.'
Rambo: 'Who are you helping? Them or you?'
Sarah: 'Does it matter?'
Rambo: 'Yeah, it matters.'
Sarah: 'Them. There's nothing missing in our lives back home. We're here to make a difference. We believe, all lives are special.'
Rambo: 'Some lives, some not.'
Sarah: 'Really? If everyone thought like you, nothing would ever change.'
Rambo: 'Nothing does change.'
Sarah: 'Of course it does. Nothing stays the same.'
Rambo: 'Live your life, 'cause you got a good one.'
Sarah: 'It's what I'm trying to do.'
Rambo: 'No, what you're trying to do is change what is.'
Sarah: 'And what is?'
Rambo: 'That we're like animals. It's in the blood. It's natural. Peace? That's an accident. It's what is. When you're pushed, killing is as easy as breathing. Then the killing stops in one place and it starts in another, but that's okay, 'cause you're killing for your country. But it ain't your country who's asking. It's a few men up top who want it. Old men start it, young men fight it. Nobody wins, everybody in the middle dies. And nobody tells the truth. God's gonna make all that go away? Don't waste your life. I did. Go home. Really. Go home.'

Sarah leaves the boat, but hesitates and the dialog continues a bit.

Sarah: 'You care.'
Rambo: 'What?'
Sarah: 'You care. Because if you didn't, you would have taken us there, taken the money and be done with it. But you didn't do that. Maybe you've lost your faith in people, but you must still be faithful to something. Believe me, I'm scared. And I love my life and I don't want to lose it. But trying to save a life isn't wasting your life, is it? Will you help me?'
Rambo: 'All right.'
Sarah: 'Thank you.'

Sarah leaves the pier and you can see Rambo looking after her. Then there is the fade to the next scene with the boat.

The Extended Cut runs 126.48 secs. longer

Extended scene with alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:19:42: In the Extended Cut, there is a view of the boat moving over the lake. When Michael is lecturing about the bad guys and the political dimension, you can see it from Rambo's side in the Extended Cut, from the opposite side in the theatrical version.
The Extended Cut runs 4.84 secs. longer

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:19:55: There is a fade to Sarah in the Extended Cut and you can see her looking at Rambo while getting up. In the theatrical version, the shot of the boat continues uninterrupted.
The Extended Cut runs 0,44 secs. Longer

Extended scene with alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:20:22: Here, too, you can see that Stallone was eager to elaborate the relation between Rambo and Sarah in the Extended Cut. In the theatrical version, the conversation between them is kept quite short by Rambo. In the Extended Cut, they are exchanging their thoughts much longer and you can see that this doesn't please Michael at all.

Theatrical version:

Sarah: 'You know, you never told us your name.'
Rambo: 'John.'
Sarah: 'Where you from?'
Rambo: 'Bowie, Arizona.'
Sarah: 'Why'd you leave?'
Rambo: 'I got drafted in Nam.'
Sarah: 'And you just stayed?'
Rambo: 'It's complicated.'
Sarah: 'You have family back home?'
Rambo: 'Father maybe. I don't know.'
Sarah: 'Aren't you curious to see how things might've changed back home?'
Rambo: 'Got to have a reason for that.'

Sarah has to smile. Rambo continues.

Rambo: 'Sarah. Because of you we're going up river. Anytime you want to turn around, it's done.'
Sarah: 'Okay.'

Extended Cut:

Sarah: 'It's like the same view goes on forever. It's so empty out there.'
Rambo: 'Just looks that way.'
Sarah: 'You know, you never told us your name.'
Rambo: 'John.'
Sarah: 'John. Lived here a long time?'
Rambo: 'Long time.'
Sarah: 'Where you from?'
Rambo: 'Bowie, Arizona. Small place.'
Sarah: 'What did you do there?'
Rambo: 'Worked horses, mainly.'
Sarah: 'Why'd you leave?'
Rambo: 'I got drafted in Nam.'
Sarah: 'Long time ago.'
Rambo: 'Long time ago. Lot of years.'
Sarah: 'And you just stayed?'
Rambo: 'It's complicated.'
Sarah: 'You have family back home?'
Rambo: 'Father maybe. I don't know.'
Sarah: 'Aren't you curious to see how things might've changed back home?'
Rambo: 'Got to have a reason for that. What do you do stateside?'
Sarah: 'I teach. Sixth grade. What?'
Rambo: 'Now I know why you ask so many questions.'

Sarah has to smile. Michael sees it and feels the need to intervene.

Michael: 'Any idea how much longer?'
Rambo: 'Yeah, just a few more hours.'
Michael: 'Maybe we should give the man his space. We should go over the schedule, okay?'
Sarah: 'Okay.'

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:23:59: The two versions are slightly different when the boat is passing by the pirates' hideout. In the Extended Cut you can see Sarah again looking to Rambo (who is shown in a different shot). Then you get a much closer look at the pirates than in the theatrical version. In the theatrical version, Rambo is grimly looking towards the hideout which you see from further away before there's a shot of the group around Sarah and Michael.
The Extended Cut runs 1.84 secs. longer

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:25:55: When Rambo tells the pirate to leave Sarah alone, there are different shots of him in the two versions.
the theatrical version runs 0.36 secs. longer

Extended sceneExtended Cut: 0:26:02: In the theatrical version, Rambo looks at Sarah in the background for a moment. In the Extended Cut, his look is interrupted and you can see her scared face. However, that's all rather unimportant.
2.08 secs.

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:26:45: The next violence cut in the Extended Cut. You see Rambo shooting the pirate from a perspective further away and you can hear just one shot. The theatrical version shows everything in gory detail as Rambo is putting quite a few bullets in the pirate's head.
The Extended Cut runs 0.48 secs. longer

Extended scene in the theatrical versionTheatrical version: 0:20:12: You see Sarah staring scared. Rambo is turning around to the others on the boat and yells: 'Who are any of you?!'
+ 2.24 secs.

Extended scene with alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:27:14: Both versions have partly exclusive dialog, but in the Extended Cut, the interaction between Sarah and Michael gets clearer.

Theatrical version: In the theatrical version, Sarah is explaining her reasons to continue the trip a bit differently.

Rambo: 'Let go.'
Michael: 'What are you doing?!'
Sarah: 'We are so close! With what happened here, it's horrible! But the people in there are being killed like this every day! Michael, this was your idea! We made a commitment! I know you don't believe in what we're doing, but it's our life, our choice.'
Rambo: 'You're not gonna change anything.'
Sarah: 'Please. Please, John. Please.'

Extended Cut: Sarah talks back to Michael, who wants to pull back.

Michael: 'What are you doing?!'
Sarah: 'Don't take us back.'
Michael: 'Look what just happened!'
Sarah: 'We got through it.'
Michael: 'We'll come back next year.'
Sarah: 'We are so close. Michael, this was your idea. We made a commitment. I know you don't believe in what we're doing, but it's our life, our choice. Please. Please, John. Please.'
Rambo: 'You're not gonna change anything.'
The theatrical version runs 5.08 secs. longer

Theatrical version

Extended Cut

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:28:15: The two versions contain different shots of the leaving boat.
No runtime difference

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:29:49: The focus on the characters continues in this seemingly unimportant difference, too. The Extended Cut shows Michael looking skeptically, in the theatrical version, he is not alone in the picture. The Extended Cut concentrates on Michael skeptically watching over his Sarah.
No runtime difference

Extended scene with alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:29:55: The following scenes where you by turns follow the ongoing journey of Sarah's group and Rambo after they have said goodbye contain some exclusive extensions in both the theatrical version and the Extended Cut. To avoid having to mention every single one of them, the exclusive parts are chronologically juxtaposed in pictures.
The Extended Cut runs 37.28 secs. longer

Theatrical version

Extended Cut

Additional sceneExtended Cut: 0:32:06: In the Extended Cut, a black-and-white flashback was inserted of Rambo looking to Sarah and shooting the pirate the other night.
3.88 secs.

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:32:29: Once again the Extended Cut has a black-and-white flashback of how Rambo kills a pirate with a bloody head shot. In the theatrical version you see a close-up of his angry face instead.
The Extended Cut runs 2.44 secs. longer

Removed scene from the theatrical version0:25:06: Sarah's group is heartily welcomed by the villagers.
+ 2.8 secs.

Extended scene with alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:32:36: When Rambo is pouring fuel over the pirates' dead bodies, the two versions use slightly different shots which are unimportant that they are left out here. The Extended Cut inserts two flashbacks here where Rambo is shooting the main pirate in the head quite bloodily and executes the one lying on the ground before throwing his body into the water. After that, the Extended Cut exclusively contains how Rambo pulls out his knife and stabs some holes in the fuel cans.
The Extended Cut runs 9,44 secs. longer

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:33:13: The Extended Cut shows Rambo with determined expression on his face, the theatrical version a less detailed view of the boat covered in smoke.Both versions then fade to the next scene with the rice field.
No runtime difference

Theatrical version

Extended Cut

Removed scene from the theatrical versionTheatrical version: 0:25:48: Sarah's colleague is treating the teeth of a villager.
+ 6.96 secs.

Removed scene from the theatrical versionTheatrical version: 0:26:02: In the theatrical version, Sarah is accompanied by the camera when she is walking through the village to reading class.
+ 3.12 secs.

Removed scene from the theatrical versionTheatrical version: 0:28:04: In the Extended Cut, the two violent and cold-blooded murders of the boys are missing. One gets shot in his chest, the other one gets his head pressed down by a soldier's foot and is stabbed by the bayonett, blood running from the wound while the boy is screaming.
+ 3.72 secs.

Removed scene from the theatrical version0:28:09: Several soldiers tear the clothes from a woman, which can't be seen in the Extended Cut.
+ 2.24 secs.

Removed scene from the theatrical version0:28:24: The scene already mentioned in an interview where the missionary's legs are blown off by a mortar was shortened in the Extended Cut as Stallone didn't like the CGI effects.
+ 0.88 secs.

Shortened scene in the Extended CutTheatrical version: 0:28:37: The shot the villager's leg getting chopped off by the machete is a bit longer (and therefore bloodier) in the theatrical version.
+ 0.16 secs.

Removed scene from the theatrical versionTheatrical version: 0:28:48: The child is falling into the fire a bit longer and the soldier is using his flame thrower once more.
+ 0.88 secs.

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:37:44: In the Extended Cut you can see a close-up of Rambo's hands holding Sarah's cross pendant. After that, there is a shot of Sarah saying to Rambo: 'Maybe you've lost your faith in people, but you must still be faithful to something. Still care about something.'

Then there is another change, that is in the order of the scenes. Whereas the Extended Cut is fading to the camp where Sarah and her colleagues are held captive and which is followed by Rambo's nightmare, there only is Rambo's nightmare in the theatrical version at this point. The scene with the camp follows somewhat later in the movie's 36th minute.
The Extended Cut runs 10.96 secs. longer

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:38:10: After the order of the beginning shots of the sentry tower and fence was just the other way round in the two versions, shortly afterwards there is the first real difference of alternative material.
In the Extended Cut you see the captives greedily shoving down the leftovers the soldiers had tossed them. In the theatrical version, the long shot of the canteen continues. Major Tint is walking towards the captives from there.
The theatrical version runs 2.04 secs. longer

Theatrical version

Extended Cut

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:38:34: In the Extended Cut, Major Tint yells at a boy, tears open his shirt and throws him on the ground where he additionally kicks him. Then the boy gets back in line. In the theatrical version, there is only a shot from the side of Tint yelling.
The Extended Cut runs 6.32 secs. longer

Theatrical version

Extended Cut

Removed scene from the theatrical versionTheatrical version: 0:36:56: A side view of scared Sarah is missing in the Extended Cut.
+ 2.52 secs.

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:40:15: The multiple shots of the head shot to the pirate are zoomed in a bit in the Extended Cut whereas the theatrical version is showing it in a wider angle. It's the same amount of violence in either version.
No runtime difference

Theatrical version

Extended Cut

Alternative material0:40:29: when he wakes up, Rambo is seen in black and white in the Extended Cut, but in color in the theatrical version.
No runtime difference

Theatrical version

Extended Cut

Extended scene with alternative material0:42:02: A big difference is making its way over here.

Theatrical version:
In the theatrical version, he just gets up and starts forging his new machete. Along with this, he philosophizes about killing.

Rambo: 'You know what you are... what you're made of. War is in your blood. Don't fight it. You didn't kill for your country. You killed for yourself. God's never gonna make that go away. When you're pushed, killing's as easy as breathing.'

Extended Cut:
In the Extended Cut, Rambo asks the priest to say a prayer for Sarah's group. While the priest does this, Rambo is forging his new machete and the prayer can be heard in the background. In Exchange for that, his monolog from the theatrical version had to disappear. That's quite logical as he has already given the gist of it in the reinserted, somewhat longer dialog with Sarah.

Rambo: 'Aren't you gonna say something?'
Marsh: 'I don't understand.'
Rambo: 'You should.'
Marsh: 'You mean a prayer?'
Rambo: 'Not for me, for them.'
Marsh: 'Yes. Lord, make me your instrument of peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. Grant that I may not seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love, for it is in giving that we receive. It is in dying that we awake to eternal life.'

The Extended Cut runs 16.4 secs. longer

Additional sceneExtended Cut: 0:43:19: Priest Marsh looks after Rambo who is starting towards the rescue mission with the mercenaries on the boat.
33.4 secs.

Alternative material0:44:24: When Lewis says that only an ape could live there, the theatrical version cuts to Rambo looking at Lewis. In the Extended Cut, a local pal of Rambo is shown. It's not until the next sentence when Lewis asks himself what he is doing there that Rambo is shown.
The Extended Cut runs 1,76 secs. longer

Extended scene with alternative material0:44:51: The conversation among the mercenaries about the Burmese army and their financing is the same in many parts, but it's cut in very different ways. Extended Cut and theatrical version contain exclusive shots and orders which are not minutely listed here for reasons of clarity. In general, the theatrical version makes clearer, due to its elaboration of the characters, that Lewis is an unsympathetic guy and the mercenaries are a bunch of tough dogs.

Then Lewis looks at Rambo and says: 'And you, I don't wanna die of old age before I get there. So move.'
Rambo is totally unimpressed and just looks at him. Lewis feels provokes by that and continues: 'You say something?'. This, too, is rolling off Rambo's back and their duel of looks is ending. Lewis walks up and down the boat and Reeves starts singing again which earns him an annoyed look from Diaz.

Now there's the scene in the camp where you can see Sarah's group being held captive. This appeared earlier in the Extended Cut. But even after that the theatrical version contains more material after the fade back to the boat.

Reese sing and Lewis sits around bored and says: 'Is it me or does the air this time of year smell like a goddamn wet dog? For fuck's sake! I could swim faster than this! Am I right?Reese answers: 'Heard that...'
the theatrical version runs 130.76 secs. longer

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:46:34: In the theatrical version, Rambo scornfully spits into the water after Lewis' blabbering, in the Extended Cut he just still looks at him.
The theatrical version runs 1.48 secs. longer

Theatrical version

Extended Cut

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:46:41: In the Extended Cut, Lewis walks away from Rambo smirking and slightly shaking his head, whereas in the theatrical version, he just shortly looks at him bfeore turning away.
The Extended Cut runs 3.44 secs. longer

Extended sceneExtended Cut: 0:46:54: School Boy says a bit more towards Rambo in the Extended Cut: 'Now, us SBS boys, we're not so heavy-handed. We like to use our brains. You know what I mean?'
Rambo looks towards Lewis once more.
8.28 secs.

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:47:08: When School Boy is talking about his nickname, different material is used in the two versions. After that, the two versions offer a different view of the boat before fading to the military camp. Here, too, the Extended Cut has to offer two more shots.
The Extended Cut runs 10 secs. longer

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:47:43: Sarah calls towards Major Tint in the Extended Cut: 'What do you want from us?', in the theatrical version, she just looks at Tint silently. Shortly thereafter, it happens the other way round, so Stallone just changed the order of the shots while making the Extended Cut.
No runtime difference

Extended scene in the theatrical versionTheatrical version: 0:40:19: Whereas the Extended Cut instantly fades from Sarah to the boat landing on the shore, the theatrical version is inserting an additional scene on the boat. It's night time and Rambo stares towards Lewis who recognizes it and stares back. Then the boat floats along the river.
+ 21.24 secs.

Extended scene with alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:48:23: When Lewis is badmouthing the rebels, the two versions show different shots of him.
The theatrical version runs 1 frame (0.04 secs.) longer

Removed scene from the theatrical versionTheatrical version: 0:43:15: In the theatrical version, the mercenaries pass by a cave where some villagers are hiding.
+ 21.28 secs.

Removed scene from the theatrical versionTheatrical version: 0:43:59: Diaz comments on the battlefield in the theatrical version: 'Man, I have seen some shit...'. In the Extended Cut, there is a closer shot of him, but he doesn't say anything.
The theatrical version runs 1.52 secs. longer

Removed scene from the theatrical versionTheatrical version: 0:44:06: Shortly thereafter, another sentence of Diaz is missing: 'Brother, I ain't never seen no shit like this.Reese: 'Word.'
Then there is a shot of gloomily looking En-Joo and a shot of dead bodies.
+ 5.28 secs.

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:50:57:
Theatrical version: School Boy looks at the hanged body and says: 'Check this out.', so the other look at it.

Extended Cut: Now Diaz utters his sentences in slightly different shots.
The theatrical version runs 3.16 secs. longer

Removed scene from the theatrical versionTheatrical version: 0:44:45: A view of the arriving mercenaries was removed in the Extended Cut.
+ 3.04 secs.

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:55:33: Whereas Diaz and En-Joo continue pointing their weapons to Rambo in the theatrical version, they look at each other unsure in the Extended Cut, and School Boy, too, can be seen pensive.
The Extended Cut runs 1.2 secs. longer

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 0:55:40: Not only is Lewis' expression different in the two versions (theatrical version: staring, Extended Cut: somewhat frightened), but the dialog is, too.

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 1:02:39: In the Extended Cut, Major Tint looks outside, in the theatrical version he is stroking the boy's head.
No runtime difference

Theatrical version

Extended Cut

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 1:02:51: Here, too, Major Tint is groping the by only in the theatrical version, contrary to the Extended Cut where he doesn't touch him.
No runtime difference

Removed scene in the Extended CutTheatrical version: 0:56:40: Die scene where En-Joo is stabbing the Burmese soldier in the side several times was cut in the Extended Cut.
+ 4.16 secs.

Additional sceneExtended Cut: 1:05:13: First, both version have another order of the scenes. In the Extended Cut, Rambo watches Sarah being brought into the house by a soldier, then the escalation during the soldiers' party and the argument between Lewis and Michael are following.
In the theatrical version, there first is the argument, followed by the soldiers' party and finally Rambo watching Sarah.

The scene with Sarah in the house was extended in the Extended Cut. She is still lying on the floor, paralyzed. Then it fades to Rambo who is approached by Lewis.

Director's Cut:
In the Extended Cut, however, this whole thing takes longer and there are several switches between the mercenaries and Rambo's little group. Rambo eventually recognizes a wound on Sarahs foot.

Additional sceneExtended Cut: 1:09:38: In the Extended Cut, Rambo is taking care of Sarah's foot and during that, they are talking. How Major Tint is walking to the hut in the following scene is different in the Extended Cut. There is, however, no significant difference but the one that you already see the blood of the soldier Rambo had killed having dripped through the floor.

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 1:10:26: Now it gets a bit confusing, but on after the other: The Extended Cut contains an exclusive scene where the soldiers mount the trucks.

After that, in both versions there are parts of scenes which are a bit longer in the respective counterpart. For example there is now the beginning of a scene in the theatrical version where Rambo recognizes Sarah's wound on her foot. In the theatrical version you can only see them running, though, and there is no dialog.

In the Extended Cut, too, there is a shortened scene. It was cut how the soldiers lift their dogs on the ramp in.
The Extended Cut runs 4.36 secs. longer

Removed scene from the theatrical versionTheatrical version: 1:02:33: The scene of the running mercenaries appeared somewhat earlier in the Extended Cut, now it is there in the theatrical version.
+ 6.24 secs.

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 1:11:28: In the Extended Cut, the soldiers keep on running whereas in the theatrical version some are jumping from a jeep and continue on foot.
The theatrical version runs 3.28 secs. longer

Shortened scene in the Extended CutTheatrical version: 1:03:59: The soldier is presenting the piece of cloth to the dog to sniff on it a bit longer.
+ 2.2 secs.

Removed scene from the theatrical version1:04:27: Lewis is carried on the stretcher by the others.
+ 4.68 secs.

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 1:12:49: After Rambo realizes that the soldiers get a trail with the dogs, he says in the Extended Cut: 'They're on our scent.'
In the theatrical version he says nothing.
The Extended Cut runs 0.36 secs. longer

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 1:12:56: This here no one will notice anyhow: when Rambo tears off a part of Sarah's shirt, School Boy looks normal in the Extended Cut, however rather irritated in the theatrical version.
No runtime difference

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 1:13:20: When School Boy shoots, Sarah clings to Rambo because she is scared in the Extended Cut, but in the theatrical version she only twitches.
The Extended Cut runs 0.28 secs. longer

Alternative material1:16:03: In the Extended Cut, Sarah slips, in the theatrical version she worriedly looks towards the explosion.
The Extended Cut runs 0.6 secs. longer

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 1:16:23: In the two versions, School Boy and Sarah continue their flight a bit differently. In the Extended Cut, School Boy helps up his company although it's not really easy:

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 1:18:19: In the Extended Cut, you can see Lewis suffering some frames longer, in the theatrical version there is Michael yelling at Major Tint: 'We did nothing! We did nothing!'. Major Tint answers with a hard strike of his cane.
The theatrical version runs 3.4 secs. longer

Removed scene from the theatrical versionTheatrical version: 1:13:36: The cut to the bloody head of the soldier just killed by Michael with a stone was cut in the Extended Cut.
+ 2.32 secs.

Shortened scene in the Extended CutTheatrical version: 1:15:36: A few frames of the mightily bloody head shot were cut in the Extended Cut.
+ 0.2 secs.

Shortened scene in the Extended CutTheatrical version: 1:16:09: The removal of, yes, 5 frames of the shot of Major Tint's heavily bleeding wound in the belly seems to have been made at will in the Extended Cut.
+ 0.2 secs.

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 1:25:56: When Rambo looks down to reunited Sarah and Michael, the Extended Cut shows a close-up of his face whereas the theatrical version uses a shot from further away.
No runtime difference

Theatrical version

Extended Cut

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 1:26:12: This here no one will notice anyhow. Several takes of looking Rambo were used. In the Extended Cut, he then also looks slightly downwards.
The Extended Cut runs 0.68 secs. longer

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 1:26:28: Now it's clearer. In the Extended Cut a frontal shot of Rambo's face, in the theatrical version a shot from the side.
No runtime difference

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 1:26:36: In the Extended Cut, there is a frontal camera movement around Rambo's face, and a static shot from the side in the theatrical version.
The theatrical version runs 1.36 secs. longer

Alternative materialExtended Cut: 1:26:43: The farewell between Rambo and Sarah is a bit more personal in the Extended Cut. There, they look at each other and Rambo lifts up his hand to bid her farewell. Sarah does this, too, and can be seen twice doing it, and once even crying. Rambo passes by a truck and there is a fade to the next scene.
In the theatrical version, Rambo looks more rigidly, and there is no farewell gesture. Sarah can be seen crying, followed by a shot of the battlefield. When Rambo turns around, there is a fade to the next scene.
The Extended Cut runs 11.92 secs. longer